Mum handled all the holiday arrangements.
see to
“Please would you see to that customer,” the manager said to the sales assistant.
sort out
Thank heavens Mrs Ito was there to sort out the problem.
take care of
“I’ll take care of the flowers if you buy the chocolates,” my sister said on Mother’s Day.
➔ See cope with
dear (1) ADJECTIVE
Something or someone dear is much loved.
beloved
The card read, “To my beloved wife”.
cherished
Grandad has cherished memories of his time in Italy.
treasured
His gran’s rocking chair was a treasured possession.
dear (2) ADJECTIVE
Something that is dear is very expensive.
costly
The furniture was costly but superbly made.
pricey INFORMAL
“That computer game’s a bit pricey,” my friend Sean muttered.
ANTONYM: cheap
decay VERB
When things decay, they rot or go bad.
biodegrade
Most plastic does not biodegrade, which is a problem for the environment.
decompose
I had a sinking feeling that my sandwiches were decomposing in my locker.
perish
The hot-water bottle leaked, as its rubber stopper had perished.
rot
Most softwood will rot if it is not painted.
decide VERB
If you decide to do something, you choose to do it, usually after thinking about it carefully.
commit yourself
In signing up for the course, my brother committed himself to do a year’s study.
make a decision
The hobbit made a decision to cross the river before camping.
make up your mind
“Ted, will you make up your mind!” Dad demanded impatiently.
reach a decision
My parents reached a decision: we were going to move house.
decision NOUN
A decision is a choice or judgment that is made about something.
choice
Daniel faced a choice – to continue and risk getting lost, or to go back the way he had come.
conclusion
I came to the conclusion that I hadn’t been working hard enough.
judgment
The panel’s judgment was that Mrs Flaherty had been fairly treated.
verdict
The courtroom fell silent as the jury’s verdict was announced.
decorate VERB
If you decorate something, you make it more attractive by adding things to it.
adorn
For the wedding, the gate to the churchyard was adorned with flowers.
festoon
The whole of Wall Street was festooned with tickertape streamers.
trim
The Christmas tree was trimmed with tinsel.
decrease VERB
If something decreases, or if you decrease it, it becomes less.
decline
Bird-lovers are worried that the number of house sparrows is declining.
diminish
The glow from the fire diminished as the dogs slumbered on.
dwindle
Once the mines closed, the valley population began to dwindle.
lessen
The driver decided to lessen his speed, as the engine was overheating.
reduce
Reducing your salt intake will help you to stay healthy.
ANTONYM: increase
deep (1) ADJECTIVE
If something is deep, it goes a long way down from the surface.
bottomless
“The way you spend, you must think I’ve got bottomless pockets!” Dad grumbled.
yawning
The earth shook violently, and a yawning hole opened up in the street.
ANTONYM: shallow
deep (2) ADJECTIVE
Deep can mean great or intense.
intense
Van Gogh painted vibrant pictures with intense colour.
profound
The discovery of penicillin had a profound effect on medicine.
strong
A strong wind blew the sailing boat safely back on course.
deep (3) ADJECTIVE
A deep sound is a low one.
bass
